Sand-box.



Patented Dec. 3|, I90l. H. M. STILES, Decd.

S. B. STILES, Administratrix.

SAND BOX.

(Application filed Dec. 19, 1898.}

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES '5 ATENT OFFICE.

HENRY M. STILES, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY; SADIE B. STILES, ADMINIS- TRATRIX OF SAID-HENRY M. STILES, DECEASED, ASSIGNOR TO STILES SAFETY SAND BOX COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

SAND-BOX.

SPEGIFIGA'IION forming part of Letters Patent No. 690,202, dated December 31, 1901. Application filed December 19, 1899. Serial No. 740,880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY M. STILES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New J ersey, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Sand-Boxes; and I do hereby declare the following tobe a full, clear, and

exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art towhich it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to sand-boxes as used for sprinkling sand on the rails that support any kind of rolling trucks.

The object of my invention is to furnish improved means for operating the distributing parts of the sand-box, the said sand-box having already been made the subject of an application which was allowed and issued as a Letters Patent on June 21, 18 98, No.606,172. I further inclose the sand-box in a casing, making the said casing serve the double purpose of acting in the first place as a reservoir for the sand, and, secondly, inclosing the sand-box proper, and, thirdly, I might add, the casing acts as the support or bearing by means attached to it for that purpose for the manipulating-rod that operates the sand-distributing compartment. Inasmuch as it depends on the particular construction of truck that is used Whether it would be more convenient for the operator to manipulate the sand-box on the right or left side, I have constructed my sandbox-manipulating parts so as to be right or left handed-that is, capable of manipulation on either the right or left side of the operator, as the case may be. By various minor details added in construction this casing is made so that it can be easily adjusted on the truck, preferably on the front or rear of the platforms, so as to be capable of manipulation within easy reach of the operator.

In describing my invention I shall call attention to the accompanying drawings,wherepart being removed.

in like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different views.

Figure 1 shows a rear view of the sand-box. (The terms front and rear are used as regards the locationof the sand-box in relation to the car-platform, as seen in Figs. 9 and 10.) Fig. 2 is a side view of the boxes shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a top view of the main body of the sand-box, the funnel or top Fig. 4 is a detail side view of the distributing-compartment. Fig. 5 is an end viewof the same compartment. Fig. 6 is a top view of the compartment as shown in Figs and 5. Fig. 7 is a top view of the funnel or top part. Fig. 8 is a rear view of the sand-box inclosed in the casing broken off, so as to show only the top and bottom parts. Fig. 9 is a view of part of a tram-car,

the dashboard being shown in section, so as I to expose in full view the casing containing the sand-box; and finally Fig. 10 is a top view of the platform as seen in Fig. 9.

A indicates the main body of the sandbox-that is to say, the part that incloses the distributing compartment B having said compartment B pivoted therein by means of a pin A. Resting on the top edges of the main body A is the funnel-shaped part O, having slanting sides for the purpose of admitting the sand Without any fear of stoppage or friction. joined together in any suitable mechanical manneras, for instance, by ordinary screws. The distributing-compartment, as previously stated, is pivoted on the pin A, said pin having its supports in the sides A and A A having to that efiecta hole and A an inside lug A said lug hollowed out to receive the end of the pin. The latter lug is purposely put on theinside of the part A, so as to maintain the outside perfectly smooth and causing thus no unnecessary cutting out in the truck;

when adjusted therein. The hole in the side A is similarly strengthened with an inside lug A placed also on the inside for the same reason as in the case of the lug A The-pin A has the distributing-compartment B at- Theseparts A and O can be I tached to it by means of a set-screw A The distributing compartment B is furnished with the sides B, B and B which divides it into. the two chambers B and B In other words, the main parts of my sand-box--viz., the main body A, The distributing-compartment B with its two chambers, and the funnel or top part-are constructed and cooperate with each other exactly as set forth in my patent above mentioned.

Inasmuch as the distributing-compartment B has to be regulated in its throw, various means to this end may be devised; but the most practical in this case, which also leaves the main box fiat on the outside, are two lugs A and A attached on the inside of the main body A, against which the respective outer sides B and B of the distributing-compartment B will strike when revolved by the pin A. The two objects that now present themselves are to operate this distributing-compartment B as direct and easy as possible and with means that involve the least amount of spring action possible and that, further,

are within practical and easy reach of the operator. In order to accomplish this, a handlever G is brought up to the same height approximately as the top of the dashboard and connected with the distributing-compartment pin A, so as to be easily manipulated by the operator. To that effect a pair of miter-gear sectors E and E each sector measuring a little more than ninety degrees on the circumference, are geared together, E secured on the end of the pin A, and E attached to the bottom end of a vertical rod F, having the hand-lever G attached to the top end. The miter-gear sector E is furnished with a bush H, and similarly the sector E with a bush H the rod F and miter-gear sector E consequently resting on the bush H The sand-box, comprising the above-stated elements of funnel, main body, and distributing-compartment, which I shall as a whole designate by the letter K for the'sake of brevity, is mounted on a plate L, cut out of some plastic material to correspond to the bottom of the sand-box or cast out of some metal molded so as to conform itself to said bottom. This plate L is fitted into a casing M, so as to form the bottom thereof, the contour of the plate L of course corresponding to the shape of the casing, the said plate secured to the casing and eventually to the floor in any suitable manner-as, for instance, as shown in Fig. 8, by floor-brackets N and N and by other brackets attaching the casing to the dashboard. Adjacent to the upper part of the casing, near the cover M, is a bracket M attached to the inside of the casing, which supports the rod F. The lower part of the rod F is steadied by passing through a hole 0 in the flange O of the funnel or top part 0, said hole C being strengthened and the rod given better support by a lug C It can now be readily seen that any turning of the handle G in the direction of the arrow-head X (see Fig. 3) .will turn the distributingcompartment in the direction of the arrow-head X (see Fig. 2) and permit the passage of sand down on the rail, the sand having previously been filled into the casing M from the top by the removal of the cover M; but in order to close the box again-in other words, bring the compartment B back again to the position it is in in Fig. 2-21, spring 1? has to be employed. Said spring P is secured between an arm E forming a rigid part of the miter-sector E and a hook Q, secured to the sand-box foundation-plate L, and inasmuch as said spring is expanded in the direction of arrow-head X (see Fig. 2) it will,when

the action on the handle G ceases, pull the. distributing-compartment back again until it strikes the lug A in the position it is in in Fig. 2. As will be observed in Figs. 9 and 10, the casing is placed at the right-hand of the operator, slightly to the right of his brake-lever, and reaches up to about the height of the dashboard, consequently not interfering at all with the brake,but handy for the operator.

What I therefore, in accordance with the above description, claim as new, and desire to secure protection for by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of a sand-box of the character set forth with a foundation-plate supporting said sand-box and a casing filled with sand attached to the dashboard of a railroad-truck inclosing both the foundationplate and sand-box substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. The combination of a sand-box comprising a funnel, a main body and a distributingcompartment separated into two chambers, with a pin revolving said distributing-compartment, a vertical rod having a hand-lever cooperating with said pin, a pair of miter-gear sectors, respectively attached to the said vertical rod and the pin, one of said sectors being furnished with an arm, a contractionspring'attached between said arm and a hook forming part of the foundation-plate for the sand-box substantially as described.

3. The combination in a railroad-truck of the dashboard with a casing, a foundationplate forming the bottom of said casing and attached thereto, a sand-box inclosed in the casin g, a vertical rod having a hand-lever attached to the casing, a pinrevolving the distribu ting-compartment of the sandbox,a pair of miter-gear sectors respectively mounted on the adjoining ends of the said vertical rod and pin, a contraction-spring attached between the foundation-plate and an arm formingpart of the miter-gear sector substantially as and for the purposes described.

4. A casing secured to the dashboard and platform of a railroad-truck, having a plate forming the bottom thereof, adapted to receive a sand-box, a vertical rod having bearings in the casing furnished with a hand-lever resting on the top of the casing, a pin re eeo,2os

volving the distribMing-compartment of the I In testimony that I claim the foregoing I sand-box, a pair of miter-gear sectors joining have hereunto set my hand this 19th day of the said vertical rod and pin operatively to- September, A. D. 1899.

gether, a contraction-spring affixed to an arm HENRY M. STILES. of one of the miter-gear sectors and to the I Witnesses: 7 foundation-plate for the purposes set forth PERCY L. GALLAGHER,

substantially as described. AUG. M. TRESCHOW. 

